In early April 2019, we welcomed Roxana Vilk and her creative team to Trinity for a workshop and sharing of her new piece Lullabies. Roxana is one of the four artist residents we have been supporting this year as part of our IGNiTE programme. During her time with us, she has worked on gathering and showcasing traditional lullabies from the diversity of cultures that have come to call Bristol home.

Roxana (far right) and Lullabies producer Katy Noakes (far left) surrounded by children from the Rosemary Nursery @ Alexa Ledecky

Trinity neighbours Rosemary Nursery came along for a workshop in the afternoon. They were welcomed in a cosy space that really reflected the warm and intimate feel of the Lullabies project. The children and carers sat comfortably on colourful cushions and carpets and watched an audio-visual piece that showcases the Lullabies gathered by Roxana and her team.

The Lullabies rickshaw created by Designer Ruth Ramsay @ Alexa Ledecky

They then learnt to sing a Somalian lullaby with two project participants before having their photo taken on the Lullabies rickshaw. The rickshaw was created by Designer Ruth Ramsay with the idea to involve further communities by cycling around more cities to gathering more lullabies.

Trinity Engagement Office Edson Burton reading his poem amongst an audience of adults and children @ Alexa Ledecky

The workshop was followed by an evening sharing attended by a larger, mainly adult audience. The audio-visual piece was screened again and followed by a live Kurdish lullaby singing and a poem reading.

Adults and children interact after the screening and live performances before a Q£A with the Lullabies creative team @ Alexa Ledecky

It felt particularly special and soothing to have children and adults come together as part of the sharing. During the feedback session, an audience member said: “Loved having kids around made it beautifully relaxed, comforting and accessible”.

Lullaby contributors serve home made Somalian food to audience members @ Alexa Ledecky

Everyone was able to enjoy freshly cooked Somalian food as part of the sharing, which was kindly prepared and served by local project participants. This brought a particularly heart warming touch to the evening and allowed everyone to engage in informal conversations.

Two audience members sit with colourful pieces of bunting and pens on their knees @ Alexa Ledecky

As well as discussing the project with Roxana and her team in a Q&A, the audience could give written feedback about the sharing, of which: “Beautiful songs, images, words and feelings. Thank you to all who shared. It has inspired me to explore my own heritage through song” and “So much love down the generations. Singing of fears and making them less”.

The IGNiTE and Lullabies teams pose together in front of the Rickshaw @ Alexa Ledecky

Read more about the Lullabies project on Roxana’s website and about our other artists in resident including Ania Varez, Viki Browne and Vicki Hearne.

About IGNiTE

IGNiTE is Trinity's in house programme of world-class, innovative theatre and dance about issues that matter to people now, starting conversations and sparking debate. IGNiTE is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by Bristol City Council.

Trinity's ten pledges, setting out our standards for cultural delivery 2019-22

We shall:

1. Pay artists and workers fairly; senior staff will not receive a pay-scale this is disproportionately higher than those on the lowest pay scale within their organisation.

2. Push for change; we will use our position, influence and connections to lobby and advocate for the benefit of the wider sector, because we value a diverse arts ecology.

Number 1: Trinity is committed to paying artists and staff fairly. Here Baast play at the annual free Garden Party. Photo @Khali Ackford.

3. Fundraise beyond our own needs; we will use our available resources to support and up-scale others, because we want to take others with us on the journey.

4. Not censor; we will support artists in the pursuit of freedom of expression and we will not remove or omit legitimate content in order to protect our institutional reputation.

Number 4: We support artistic freedom of expression. In this image Viki Browne's performs her work-in-progress Hyper Fem, part of our IGNiTE Theatre and Dance programme. Photo @ Khali Ackford

5. Take risk; in our practice and programming, advocating for that which is responsive and relevant, encouraging arts funders and commissioners to also take risks.

Number 8: 'Listen to someone who doesn't sound like you and seek out those who do not think the same as you.' Image here taken from IGNiTE artist Ella Mesma's performance of Ladylike. Photo @Jessica Bartolini

6. Empower others; collaborate and connect with others for the benefit of artists, creative practice, participants, audiences and the sector, because we want to be inspired.

"We will be prepared to give up our own seat at table for someone else"

7. Be an open door; we will develop entry points for people to experience a wide range of art forms, alongside avenues for people with different voices to pursue careers in the arts - because we understand the intrinsic value of diversity.

8. Listen and be challenged; we will seek out those who hold opinions that are different to our own to build a broad perspective of arts, informed by the widest possible range of voices - because we want to be better and more inclusive.

Number 6: Be inspired and empower one another to work together, to collaborate and to celebrate. Image from Uchenna Dance's workshop delivered as part of our IGNiTE o Photo @Khali Ackford

9. Give freely; we will give some of what we have - time, space, support, advice - for free, because we want to empower people to make things relevant to themselves and their peers.

10. De-construct privilege; we will challenge systems, situations and processes which uphold and protect institutionalized power and we will be prepared to give up our own seat at table for someone else.

Darren Pritchard’s Rent Party was programmed as part of our IGNiTE theatre and dance Spring Season.

Maya Ilogu, aspiring actor and Bristol resident has been blogging about coming along to our IGNiTE performances and workshops this Spring. Read her latest instalment on Darren Pritchard’s Rent Party, that we like to call ‘come dance at Rent Party, even though you’ve not done this type of thing before’.

Over to Maya:

On the 16th March I attended both the workshop and performance of Rent Party. When I arrived I went straight into the main theatre; which was where the workshop was being held.

"As a person of colour living in the UK the show was relatable and they talked about a lot of issues in the UK"

During the workshop I learnt some choreography which I found out was going to be a part of the performance. This is something I didn’t expect to be doing and I don’t have a lot of experience but it was really fun to learn and to be a part of. We learnt the choreography step by step and rehearsed with the performers. The performers were doing it with us and so we had someone to follow if we were unsure of the steps. It was all fun and not taken serious. We had to keep the fact that we are going to be a part of the performance a secret to make it look like a flash mob.

I really liked the choreography - it wasn’t too complicated and was fun to learn and do. we went out to the main entrance just before the show was about to start. The performance began; it was set out like a rent party, party games, music and dancing which meant you couldn’t help but want to join in.

In the show they each told their own story and experiences of growing up in the UK as a person of colour and the issues they had to overcome. We were given play money which we would give to the performer we thought deserved the money at the end.

The show in general was inspiring and gave me motivation to get to where I want to be. Something I really like about the performance was that it was really energetic, fun and everyone could get involve. As a person of colour living in the UK the show was relatable and they talked about a lot of issues in the UK but they didn’t always say them in a serious way which meant they kept to the theme of their performance.

This performance was appealing to everyone and was nothing like I had ever seen before. Before I came to the workshop and performance I didn’t know what to expect other than it was going to have a party vibe and there was going to be music and dance. So I was excited to see what was going to happen.

From a young person’s perspective, who wants to get into acting and performance, it was great to take part in and learn from. I learnt new choreography and gained confidence in performing infront of others. I got a better understanding of different types of performances.

You can read more of Maya's blogs over here.

IGNiTE is supported using public funding by Bristol City Council and by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

Oli  Cocup is a Making Tracks Drum / Music Production / Live Performance Tutor

Oli has been drumming for 17 years and has been teaching music at Trinity for five of those years. Working with such a diverse group of young people Oli has helped forge a teaching style which focuses around the student having the freedom to explore what they want to do in any genre with any instrument.

He became a professional musician in 2017 and has toured Europe extensively with various bands covering thousands of miles. He has also recorded several sessions with solo artists, covering many genres of music from Industrial metal to Lo-Fi Hip Hop.

As a live drummer Oli currently works with: My Octopus Mind, Stanlaey and Ogives Big Band.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

Scottee's workshop explored making art about 'issues'. Photo Alexa Ledecky

Our Spring 2019 season of theatre and dance presented innovative artists who spoke from the heart and asked: How do we strip away the layers of expectation placed on us by society to find the truest version of ourselves?

Shows included: Fat Blokes from Scottee; Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer by Shane Shambhu; Rent Party by Darren Pritchard Dance; Windows of Displacement by Toussaint To Move.

All shows included ways for audiences to get involved, from Scottee's workshop Getting Things Off Your Chest to Rent Party's post show disco.

We also welcome and supported four IGNiTE artists in residence -Ania Varez developed and shared her project 'Guayabo' (Venezuelan slang for 'heartbreak').  Read her thoughts on taking the project to Spill festival and an honest and brave interview about the reasons and importance of the project with the BBC online.

Vicki Hearne, creative director of Untold Dance Theatre an all female intergenerational company, created a new piece ‘Practically Perfect’, a project that focused on the idea of perfectionism, the journey to strive for this unattainable goal and how this affects women in particular.

Audiences take a short break during Roxana Vilk's sharing of Lullabies. Photo Alexa Ledecky

Roxana Vilk's  'Lullabies' explored heritage migration and identity though collecting lullabies sung to children by families and parents across Bristol.

Sharing Hyper Fem - Viki Brown. Photo Khali Ackford

Viki Browne's 'Hyper Fem' asked whether the performance of femininity through Drag can be as powerful, political or subversive when performed on a female identifying body.

IGNiTE is programmed in collaboration with our Programming Forum.The forum is made up of members of the communities who regularly use Trinity and they help advise our programme.

IGNiTE is supported using public funding by Bristol City Council and by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

Jack took part in Making Tracks Summer Music Session Aug 2018 (photo @ Alastair Brookes)

I was 16 when I dropped out of college. I didn't do well at my GCSCE's and ended up on a course I didn't want to be on. I lacked focus and was depressed within that environment. I grew up on a poor estate and the idea of never achieving anything in life was kind of drummed into me.

I was NEET for about a month until I was picked by an agency (LPW) who advised me to start looking at mini courses and apprenticeships. It was through these opportunities that I was eventually referred across to Trinity to take part in the Making Tracks Project.

I really enjoy making music and after some time on the Making Tracks course I ended up taking part in a work experience placement going in every Wednesday for a couple of hours and sitting in on various 121 sessions and even in some cases leading sessions with other students (with Trinity's support).

During these sessions I helped other young people to record vocal tracks, produce original beats and assist live rehearsal sessions. I have also attended professional training as part of the team and gained a safeguarding certificate.

Making Tracks is a collaborative project between Trinity, Basement Studios & Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE@Docklands) and is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Click here to find out more about our projects, helping ensure that everyone in Bristol has the opportunity to access and shape arts and culture.

You help secure Trinity's past, now play your part in Trinity's future

Scottee is a performer and writer who creates work that tackles challenging subjects head-on. We kicked off our IGNiTE Spring season with his show Fat Blokes and added to it an afternoon workshop that gave participants the opportunity to discover more about Scottee's creative practice.

During the afternoon prior to performing his show as part of Trinity’s IGNiTE, Scottee gave a workshop titled “Making Stuff About Stuff”. The session was delivered in an open-minded, safe space, allowing all participants to exchange ideas freely.

Those who attended were able to share amongst one another and with theatre maker and performer Scottee himself. They discussed ways of finding inspiration for creating new work through different exercises.

Scottee introduced ways of finding new themes to develop new meaningful work. He started off by encouraging the participants to create a list of words that reflects their identity in their own eyes and the eyes of others.

In the second phase of the workshop, Scottee invited the participants to create a list of what makes them angry and to choose one of these particular ideas and write a “rant” about it.

"It felt like a really safe and generous moment. I liked having less 'showing work' and more talking about creative process in an interactive way" - workshop participant

There are plenty more IGNiTE workshops around the corner. Why not join Shane Shambhu (Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer,10 Mar) or Akeim Toussaint in the day time (before Windows of Displacement, 23 Mar), or drop in just before Rent Party (16 Mar) take to the stage for a dance workshop?

Artist and performer, Scottee makes work about things that they really care about, we programmed their show Fat Blokes as part of IGNiTE Spring 2019.

Scottee makes work with non-professionals artists (in Fat Blokes the four dancers had ‘never done this kind of thing before’), exploring issues about personal experiences that have a common theme. His work is about encouraging ‘safe spaces’ for new work to be created – ensuring new voices get heard.

Before the show Scottee ran an afternoon session ‘Making Stuff About Stuff’ - a workshop designed to address the things that make us angry in the world. Aspiring actor and Bristol resident Maya went along to find out what a workshop with Scottee was like for a young person starting out.

Scottee (second from LHS) leading 'Making Stuff About Stuff' photo @Alexa Ledecky

“I found out about this workshop and the shows taking place through Roseanna, the Assistant Producer at Trinity, and wanted to take part to develop my confidence and learn new skills.Before attending this workshop I had no expectations of what was going to happen or exactly what I was going to get out of it but I saw it as a new opportunity to get closer to where I want to be as a performer/actor.

"One thing I liked about the workshop was there was no pressure to share anything we didn’t want to and there were no right or wrong answers."

When I arrived into the room, chairs were set out in a circle at one side of the room where we all sat. The workshop began and Scottee introduced himself and what he identifies as, and then everyone in the circle went round and introduced themselves, what they identify as and where they want to be. We were told that there should be no expectations set and we are not here to learn anything.

Scottee asked us to each take a piece of paper and pen. We folded the piece of paper into a leaflet style and on one side, those who wanted to, wrote down all their identities and how others see them. If we wanted to we could then discuss them and people got the opportunity to ask questions on any specific identities we were unsure of, had questions about or found interesting. I decided to share my list with the group.

We then went to another side of the paper and wrote all the things that made us angry. After mentioning the things that made us angry we then wrote down a rant about this particular thing which we hated. I wrote about racism and my rant was against those who are racist or who don’t see racism as a serious issue. At first some of us struggled, finding it difficult to rant about something when we were not in an angry mood. For others it was an opportunity to get the issue off their chests. There was a mixture of very individual issues and those that affect lots of people. Scottee encouraged us to read over it and add more details into the rant.

The group shared their 'rants' about the things that made them cross photo @Alexa Ledecky

We came to a final decision about whether we wanted to throw it away or keep it. If we threw it away, it was like we were done with the issue, and if we kept it then that may have meant there was still more to write, discuss or work on.

One thing I liked about the workshop was there was no pressure to share anything we didn’t want to and there were no right or wrong answers. Everyone showed signs of being comfortable in the group through their body language and the conversations we had. People opened up about their identities and personal issues. It was a relaxed intimate environment without anyone being in your face.

This workshop helped me personally because I was able to think of how I identify myself and how others identify themselves - my confidence in having discussions and sharing things with others has definitely increased."

Scottee’s workshop was a great opportunity for anyone working in performance, particularly socially driven work, to learn techniques around developing work.

Want to take part? We have more workshops coming up as part of our IGNiTE Spring season.

On 10 March, learn Bharatanatyam dance with Shane Shambhu ahead of his for dance/comedy show Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer. 16 March learn voguing and house styles at a pre show workshop then join the party crew for dance experience Rent Party and, finally on 23 March join dance artist Toussaint To Move for a workshop about his creative process ahead of his show about migration Windows of Displacement.

Making Stuff About Stuff was presented as part of IGNiTE - our programme of world-class, innovative theatre and dance about issues that matter to people now, starting conversations and sparking debate. IGNiTE is supported using public funding by Bristol City Council and by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

Volunteers help plant seedlings in 2018

Trinity has received funding from the Postcode Local Trust to help make our Community Garden accessible to all.

The grant will match-fund a generous donation from Amelia Bax so we can install raised planters, potting tables, an accessible compost toilet, levelled pathways around the garden and a water-pipe to make regular tasks easier for everyone.We shall be looking forward to embarking on improvements to the garden this Spring!

Our IGNiTE residencies are an opportunity for artists or companies to develop  a new piece of work at Trinity. In the 2018 / 2019 cohort we welcomed Ania Varez (you can read two blog posts about her project here and here); Roxana Vilk, Viki Hearne and Viki Browne. All artists receive space, resources and support to develop their project.

Viki Brown during her Hyper Fem sharing (photo credit @ Khali Ackford)

Viki shared her work: Hyper Fem in early January 2019 at Trinity. Hyper Fem asks whether the performance of femininity through Drag can be as powerful, political or subversive when performed on a female identifying body. It is strongly inspired by some of her recent previous projects which involved epic wigs and performing as a ‘make up girl in a tiny dress’.

Many people came along to Viki's sharing, including Trinity staff (photo @Khali Ackford)

The IGNiTE team attended alongside Trinity staff, industry professionals and members of Many Minds the Bristol based arts and mental health charity that Viki is a co-director of. A sharing is the opportunity for an artist to receive feedback on their work in progress and to develop the piece further. For audiences it is an opportunity to 'contextualize the artist’s vision'.

“I work alongside resident artists helping with admin and logistics. Often we talk about road blocks they are facing and their '’break though moments'’. Because of this when I'm given the opportunity to see sharing's I jump at the chance. It gives me the opportunity to push my boundaries and offer perspective that may not come from the artist’s typical audience. ” - Ripley, Admin Assistant

Viki interacts with the audience after her sharing of 'Hyper Fem' (photo @Khali Ackford)

Looking back on her residency Viki says: "Developing ‘Hyper Fem’ at Trinity has been an incredible opportunity for me. I find the building, its history and its placement in the city truly inspiring. It's political past and its dedication to the multiple communities who use the space have challenged me to think and dream bigger than ever before. I felt safe, supported and welcome in the building which after two weeks of working there started to feel like a second home. We are now excited to begin the next phase of the project: finding partners and commissioners to work with on the show!”

In March and April welcome Roxana Vilk whose residency will focus on the lullabies families cross Bristol sing to their children.

Trinity is the perfect space for your alternative, grass-roots, DIY wedding. With our central location, affordable packages a choice of indoors and our lush green garden  – you can celebrate your special day in one location.

Clare and Dave booked Trinity for their wedding, here they walk down the aisle in Fyfe Hall (image courtesy of Clare and Dave).

Host your ceremony in the beautiful Fyfe Hall with breathtaking stained-glass windows; transform the main hall with your own vision into a decorated banqueting area;  make the most of the iconic backdrop for photos in-front of the recently restored Grade II* listed former church, The Trinity Centre.

Abi and Jack celebrate their marriage in Trinity's large outdoor garden (image courtesy of Abi and Jack).

Book before 28 Feb 2019 to save 10% off 2019 Wedding packages – there are only a few remaining dates available in 2019 so be quick as once they are gone they are gone – to find out more and to arrange a viewing get in touch with us on 0117 935 1200 or email us at info@trinitybristol.org.uk

Volunteers sort through clothes in the Graffiti Room. Photo @Khali Ackford

A big thanks to everyone for their support during the Caring at Christmas day shelter at Trinity.

Across the project a total of 2307 hot meals and 2400 sandwiches where served to around 100 guests a day in the Day Centre at Trinity. We have been really delighted to team up and with Caring at Christmas for this much needed ambitious project,  during the crucial Christmas period when provisions become scarce in Bristol for those experiencing homelessness.

Thank you everyone for helping to make it happen!

Regular Trinity users donated Christmas trees to decorate the main hall. Photo @Khali Ackford

Trinity became a day shelter with support, food and social activities. Photo @Khali Ackford

Dinner awaits. Photo @Khali Ackford

Caring in Bristol team members outside Trinity. Photo @Khali Ackford

Culture Vultures get ready – 24 hr Flash Sale starts tomorrow (17 Jan 2019, 10am)

Save money with thousands of discounted tickets and offers in the Bristol and Bath 24-hour culture flash sale from 10 am tomorrow (Thursday 17 January).

Windows of Displacement (23 March) explores Issues surrounding migration, home, borders and identity - some of the biggest questions of our time. Photo credit @Ashley Karrell

From music, theatre, art and museum exhibitions to Planetarium shows and theatre classes, there are deals galore. Take a punt on something new, grab a bargain and kick off your year with a barrow-load of amazing culture. This is the 10th edition of the Culture Flash Sale, which this time sees over 20 organisations from across Bristol and Bath offer culture fans amazing discounts and deals to help beat the January blues.

Save 20% on Benjamin Zephaniah (16 May) tickets during the flash sale

Grab yourself 20% off selected IGNiTE and live music shows by using the code: FLASH20 at the check out - there is only a limited number of tickets available at this very special Flash Sale discount so do-not miss out!

TECH N9NE 2 Feb 7:00 PM

Slum Village (LIVE) X Abstract Orchestra 7 Feb 7:00 PM

Fat Blokes – Scottee 20 Feb 7:30 PM

Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer - Shane Shambhu Sun 10 March 7:30 PM

Windows of Displacement - Toussaint To Move 23 March 7:30 PM

Benjamin Zephaniah & The Revolutionary Minds Thu 16 May 7:00 PM

Don't forget to use the code FLASH20 at the checkout to get 20% of these selected shows

Other highlights from the sale include 20% off selected tickets at Bristol Old Vic (link will be live at 10am 17 Jan) , discounted tickets to SS Great Britain's Late Nights and 50% of selected gigs at Lakota (use code 50OFF).

Our Spring 2019 season of theatre and dance presents innovative artists who speak from the heart and ask: How do we strip away the layers of expectation placed on us by society to find the truest version of ourselves?

Celebrate flab, double chins and getting semi-naked in Scottee’s Fat Blokes (22 Feb). Laugh at the hilarious Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer, Shane Shambhu's biographical story of cultural fusion and clashes in an East London playground (10 March). Join Darren Pritchard Dance, their artist friends – dancers, singers, musicians and poets in the 1920’s Harlem Renaissance Inspired: Rent Party (16 Mar). Then, explore issues around migration in Toussaint To Move’s autobiographically sourced Windows of Displacement (23 March) where the shifting (and increasingly urgent) politics surrounding the movement of people takes centre-stage.

Explore issues around migration in Toussaint To Move’s autobiographically sourced Windows of Displacement (23 March)

Rent Party (16 Mar): a kaleidoscopic picture of what it means today to be young, gifted, and black – and poor, and gay.

From post-show talk backs (Fat Blokes 22 Feb, Windows of Displacement 23 March) to workshops (Making Stuff About Stuff, Scottee; Creative Dance with Akeim Toussaint Buck; Contemporary Dance workshop with Shane Shambu) there are plenty of ways to stand up and get involved in the season.

Sign up to: Contemporary Dance workshop with Shane Shambu, 10 March, £5

All IGNiTE tickets are £11 / £9 concs (including booking fee) and workshops of £5 (including booking fee). Communities who use Trinity regularly could benefit from subsided tickets, please email marketing officer sarahb@3ca.org.uk to find out more.

Get involved with IGNiTE

Volunteering - from stewarding to photography there are many ways to get involved in IGNiTE. Find out more about the opportunities on offer here.

Test audiences - help shape the work artists and companies create by signing up to be part of an IGNiTE test audience.

Residencies - find out more about our IGNiTE artists in residence here.

KOAN Sound are part of the 100+ line up across the city during the FightBack Bristol Festival. They play Trinity 14 Feb & 16 Feb (sold out)

Trinity joins 14 other venues this February (4-18 Feb) for Fightback Bristol – a new campaign headed by the Music Venue Trust that encourages audiences to visit their local grassroots music venue and promote the Bristol’s emerging and existing musical talent.

“These venues are the backbone of the live music scene in Bristol, providing spaces where artists can take their first steps, develop and grow. Fightback Bristol provides an opportunity to showcase the fantastic range of artists and venues that Bristol enjoys, celebrating the history of our music scene and supporting its future." Gary Prosser, Music Venue Trust

Events at Trinity during the festival include:

7 Feb Slum Village

9 Feb – Krank94

14 Feb – KOAN Sound

Plus more to be announced.

We will be selling Fightback Lager , Music Venues Trust’s new project to raise money to help grassroots venues throughout the country, providing venues with an affordable beer that financially helps the whole sector. Find out more about Fightback Bristol and other events across the city here.

Making Tracks Showcase 2018

The Making Tracks Showcase is an opportunity for young people from Trinity, Basement and ACE to  showcase their talents in-front of a live audience. Over the day 21 young people performed to an audience of over 100! Attendees to the event included Adam Devonshire of the band Idles who said of the showcase:

"To see youth projects like this, giving young people the opportunity to learn and grow as musicians, was truly amazing and inspiring. The confidence that comes from being given the tools to create music is immeasurable and projects like this are truly something to cherish. Long may it continue."

To everyone who donated and supported Trinity this year we wanted to say thank you and let you know how your help has impacted on the work we do.

Dancers from Gerry's Attic, a dance group for the over 55's take part in a workshop (photo @ Sarah Koury).

Trinity Community Initiative supported community and voluntary groups with over 4000 hours free and subsidised hall space.

Keisha Thompson delivers a workshop to young people as part of our IGNiTE programme (photo @Khali Ackford).

Over 100 people took part in one of the professional workshops delivered by touring companies and artists programmed as part of our IGNiTE theatre and dance programme. Highlights included students from Making Tracks taking part in a vocal looping workshop with Keisha Thompson and Rise Youth Dance taking part in Uchenna Dance’s workshop.

This year we earned a Bronze Attitude is Everything Award, and secured £5,000 funding from the Hedley Foundation and Bruce Wake Charitable Trust to pay for a mobile accessible lift to enable wheelchair users to access our Main Stage.

Josh attends regular 121 music sessions at Trinity's collaborative music making project (photo @ Alistair Brookes).

Our collaborative music making project Making Tracks provided over 400 music sessions for 101 young people, many of whom (85%) struggle with confidence, behaviour, health, well-being or other challenging personal circumstances.  Making Tracks makes a difference in peoples lives.

We are committed to conserving and protecting the Trinity Centre for ours and future generations (photo Khali Ackford).

With generous donations from the public, an uplift grant from Historic England and support from Heritage Lottery Fund and, other charitable Trusts & Foundations we raised the much needed funds to complete the major repairs to the fabric of the building.

Trinity's annual Festival of Light along with the Garden Party attract over 3k visitors and feature a line up of the best local musical talent (photo @Khali Ackford).

You can read more about the work we do by downloading our annual report here, or you can find out how you can continue to support the work we do here.

We couldn’t do this without your support, thank you.

We wish everyone the best over the festive season.

Xyzelle, Sealvia and Chantaleaze - students from project partners ACE perform at Trinity's Festival of Light. Photo Khali Ackford

1. Playing at the Unity stage at St Pauls Carnival

"The Carnival Stage provided an excellent opportunity for young people to perform at one of the City's most significant and historic cultural events. It was great to have staff and  young people across the Making Tracks programme there on the day." Darren Alexander, ACE.

Josh Carter practices singing in one of our recording studios during the Summer Sessions at Trinity (photo @ Alastair Brookes)

2. Summer Sessions at Trinity

"Trinity's in house annual summer workshop and live performance event. Held over two days in August. Working in partnership with Access Creative College Bristol, who delivered bespoke DJ and Film sound workshops." Dave Thomas, Trinity Community Arts

Making Tracks showcase at Trinity's Festival of Light (photo @ Khali Ackford)

3. Youth Music Showcase at Festival of Light

"The Festival of Light provided our young people with the biggest audience of their music journeys so far. The sound quality was amazing and the experience provided a taste of what a professional performance feels like." Darren Alexander, ACE.

Area of Effect play on the main stage at Trinity's annual Garden Party (photo @ Jesscia Bartolini)

4. Youth Music Stage, Trinity Garden Party

"Area of Effect rock band opening on main stage. Seeing these three 15 year-olds rise to the amazing opportunity of performing their set with hi spec stage and PA  and at such a public event was so exciting. It really upped their expectations and motivation in terms of performance, and it also opened them up to 1:2:1: music development and support." Troy Tanska, Basement Studios

5. End of Year Showcase Party, Trinity

"I was really proud of the range of performances - from those who'd never made music in front of others, to performances good enough to charge for. They were really respectful and supportive of each other - even though there were such varied genres and skills. It was a massive highlight seeing a young person who had such a difficult time in the past, but who turned their life around since being part of Making Tracks in the summer and is now at music college, absolutely smash it centre-stage. Such an honour to see the power of music in action." Troy Tanska, Basement Studios

Trinity has submitted an objection to a proposal to develop 12 new apartments at 90 West Street, Old Market.

Our objection relates to the absence of community consultation in relation to the proposals and that the Noise Impact Statement makes no reference to the development’s proximity to Trinity.

We understand there is a critical need to build new homes in the city and welcome conversations with developers wishing to invest in the area around us. Conversations with existing businesses are a standard part of any planning process and help to inform plans, limit the number of objections to any project and give developments the best chance of success.

We believe people not only need places to live, but also spaces to come together, socialise and celebrate. A development less than 200 yards from an existing live music venue - which has not taken any action to mitigate against noise impact on new tenants - must be challenged.

Trinity is member of newly formed Bristol@Night Board which has been set up to respond to issues affecting the city’s nightlife. We will be working with this board - which also involves Save Bristol Nightlife - in the new year, to ensure as a city we continue to support and protect what makes Bristol a great place to live, work and visit.

If you would like to make your own objection to the proposed development, please visit Bristol’s Planning Portal and make your own objections, or cut and paste the following:

I would like to object to the recently resubmitted planning application reference 18/06186/F (previous reference: 17/04953/F) for the following reason:-

Insufficient Mitigation of Noise for New Dwellings (Agent of Change principle)

The Noise Impact Statement is from Nov 2016 and there have been no revisions of this report since this application was last submitted. The report makes no reference to the fact that the development will be right next to an existing live music venue (est. 1976).

Therefore, no mitigating actions have been taken in relation to its proximity to the Trinity Centre and there is no acknowledgement or awareness of the proposed Agent of Change Principle.

Josh has been attending 121 sessions at Trinity as well as workshops and other events delivered as part of Making Tracks (photo Alastair Brookes - KoLAB Studios).

"I had heard Trinity provided people who have had difficult pasts with good opportunities to develop skills with performing and recording music"

Hi, I am Josh I'm 21 and I come to Trinity weekly to attend 121 music sessions that are part of the Making Tracks Project .

As well as the recording sessions I attend I also have been learning skills in songwriting workshops and other music related events at Trinity.

I came to trinity because music is something that I’ve always been passionate about and I had heard Trinity provided people who have had difficult pasts with good opportunities to develop skills with performing and recording music, I mainly work with Al in the studio and greatly enjoy it.

I’ve struggled with mental health problems all my life and being able to record at Trinity has been a massive help with keeping myself positive and active. Taking part in Trinity has benefited me in more ways than I ever would have imagined, it’s enabled me to be able to write and record my own songs and has helped me develop my skills and confidence as a musician. When I first started attending trinity I was very shy and struggled with depression a lot and the friendly atmosphere provided at trinity has really brought me out of my shell and helped me become the strong confident person I am today.

Without trinity I would never have gotten the chance to make my own music or improve my skills as a musician.

If I had to describe my experience at trinity in three words I’d use “truly amazing experiences".

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